Bangladesh batsman Aftab Ahmed has announced he will retire at the end of the 2014-15 season. He said that his focus will turn to coaching and setting up an academy in his hometown of Chittagong.

He will play the upcoming season's Dhaka Premier League for Brothers Union after switching over from Gazi Tank Cricketers on the first day of player transfers being held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

The decision comes as a surprise, since Aftab is a few months short of his 29th birthday and still fit. But he said that the state of his playing career was what prompted the decision. Last season he averaged 23.81 for Gazi Tank and 18.20 in three first-class games.

"This is my last Premier League, I don't wish to play any longer," Aftab said. "It wasn't based on any emotional factors. It is completely a personal decision. This is my last year. You all please pray that I can leave on a high."

"Cricket has become tough. Club officials think in a different way. I got a very low offer this year. So by putting everything into consideration, I thought this is the right time. If I had taken a bit longer, it wouldn't be good for me. This is how I came to this decision."

He is yet to gain higher level coaching credits, but wants to help Chittagong get out of the mire in cricket development. Not since Nazimuddin, who debuted in 2007, has Bangladesh's second-largest city produced an international cricketer.

"I am setting up a cricket academy in Chittagong, which will be opened in the near future," he said. "I want to take my coaching career to a very good level. Currently cricket in Chittagong is in bad shape, so I wish to take it to a better place."

Aftab played just 11 Tests for Bangladesh but he was more of an ODI player, winning 85 caps. He famously hit Jason Gillespie for a six in the last over of Bangladesh's miraculous win over Australia in Cardiff in 2005.

But three years later, he would join the rebel Indian Cricket League and be shunned by the BCB. He did make it back to the Bangladesh team in 2010, only to play two more Tests, averaging 17.00, and making just 80 runs in five ODIs. His last international match was in the World T20 that year.

"The start of my career doesn't really reflect what I eventually became as a player," he said. "The ICL had a profound effect on my career at a crucial time. I mean, I couldn't really end my career as I would have wanted. Still, I think people loved me for the way I played the game."

__________________> Start slow. Build a base. Then explode.
> I needed to perform so that I could give my countrymen an occasion to cherish and be proud of - Ice Man> My photographs @ flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/obayedh/

We might see more retirement/departure from cricket than new players coming in during the Papon's next 2 years. Ashraful, Aftab gone, Alok/Nafees/Rajin/Robin/Mosharraf Rubel not too far away...

I remember during Lotus Kamal era, we had 6x20=120 registered players from 6 division who were in some kind of payroll. Not sure what happens now.

With terrible performance on the filed, sponsors will slowly cut cost and players salary will sharply decline. I remember, it was the 2009 whitewash over west indies led by Shakib, that prompted sharp rise in players payroll and had been going up. Without shakib and failures on the field, the salary will decline fast.

Originally Posted by reyme
We might see more retirement/departure from cricket than new players coming in during the Papon's next 2 years. Ashraful, Aftab gone, Alok/Nafees/Rajin/Robin/Mosharraf Rubel not too far away...

I remember during Lotus Kamal era, we had 6x20=120 registered players from 6 division who were in some kind of payroll. Not sure what happens now.

With terrible performance on the filed, sponsors will slowly cut cost and players salary will sharply decline. I remember, it was the 2009 whitewash over west indies led by Shakib, that prompted sharp rise in players payroll and had been going up. Without shakib and failures on the field, the salary will decline fast.

__________________> Start slow. Build a base. Then explode.
> I needed to perform so that I could give my countrymen an occasion to cherish and be proud of - Ice Man> My photographs @ flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/obayedh/

Aftab once beat either his neighbor or his land lord' boottocks with a loaded with kerosene "Hurricane" ....in whole Bangladesh, out of 16 million people, I reckognize this man aftab ahmed as a real ctg man with a real big pair and made of solid steel too! I salute you aftab ahmed, you were once a real man and a genuine tough guy!

Originally Posted by bujhee kom
Aftab once beat either his neighbor or his land lord' boottocks with a loaded with kerosene "Hurricane" ....in whole Bangladesh, out of 16 million people, I reckognize this man aftab ahmed as a real ctg man with a real big pair and made of solid steel too! I salute you aftab ahmed, you were once a real man and a genuine tough guy!

Originally Posted by Murad
He is just being lazy. Doesn't wanna work hard but expecting a big salary in DPL.

This is it, can't expect to get paid a lot if you perform badly on a consistent basis, he's running away from the issue and not taking any responsibility for it so instead of accepting he's doing badly and could work harder to perform better he's just decided to retire.

Aftab Ahmed, Ashraful, Nafis Iqbal, Al Shahriar, Alok Kapali. Probably five of the most talented batsmen the country ever produced. Pure, raw talent. They had terrific hand eye coordination, timing, and all the shots in the book.

So unfortunate none of these guys were willing to work hard, learn the game etc.

I still remember the in form Aftab Ahmed dancing down the track and effortlessly heaving the ball over the top. No need to slog, pure timing.

I haven't seen much of Aftab, the only good memory I have of him is his innings to beat WI in a tea20 match.
Yes with hard work he could have been a useful T20 player for us.
Anyway, good luck to him for his future.

Seeing Aftab in the team line-up used to make me confident. Although, like everyone else in the team, the consistency was very poor but thank you for all your contributions and all the best with your new venture.

Originally Posted by Donal C
...
The decision comes as a surprise, since Aftab is a few months short of his 29th birthday and still fit. But he said that the state of his playing career was what prompted the decision. Last season he averaged 23.81 for Gazi Tank and 18.20 in three first-class games.

Official age must be 30+. Baldness says it all. Plus I think he wants to spend time with his family more.

"Still fit" meaning can jog 5 miles like average john doe or serious Cricket "match fit"?

Best of luck to Aftab. You left the team better than when you entered. Contribution was electric.

__________________
The Weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the Strong." - Ghandi.

Triple A member... He had so much potentials just like the other 2 but came up short. I would say he had utterly wasted his talent. It's a shame that his sluggishness got the better of him. He once said "nijer shontan ke cricketer banabo na. Cricket khela jaa koshter" or something like that.

Having said that, his batting was Really pleasing to my eyes. I enjoyed his batting more than I enjoyed Ash or Alok's batting. Needless to say that he was way more talented than Riyad, Imrul, Kopa or even Nasir.

Aaah Aftab...what have you done? ?

__________________
The mind is like a parachute, it only works when open.....Thomas Dewey

He had some good looking shots and seemed to have a good technique. So good luck Aftab. But plz don't open a cricket academy and make the young kids lazy like you. BCB should give him 10 lakh taka and make him a partner in Kayes and Razzak's future business.

Originally Posted by bujhee kom
Aftab once beat either his neighbor or his land lord' boottocks with a loaded with kerosene "Hurricane" ....in whole Bangladesh, out of 16 million people, I reckognize this man aftab ahmed as a real ctg man with a real big pair and made of solid steel too! I salute you aftab ahmed, you were once a real man and a genuine tough guy!